Patent GB-123600-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Hand Operated Digging Machines.
Inventor: BUSH JOSUAH JOSIAH
IPC: E02F3/02
Filed: 1918-03-02
Abstract: 123,600. Bush, J. J. March 2, 1918. Addition to 112,670. Diggers.-In a digging-machine as described in the parent Specification, the worm gear with its operating shaft f and handle c is positioned, according to the present invention, at the side of the machine, the mid-position being occupied by a chain of gearing m, n, p, q. The last member of this chain, which is driven from the shaft k operated by the worm gear, is a pair of wheels q carrying between them on pivots a collar u which passes over the end of the handle a of the spade or fork, and this imparts an oscillatory movement to the implement as it is depressed into the soil by the engagement of the pinions j on the shaft k with the teeth i on the sliding members g. To facilitate the entrance of the implement into the ground, the operator stands on two tread-boards F pivoted at G<1> and adapted to engage the treads of the digging-implement which in this arrangement is provided with one handle only. When the implement is fully depressed in the earth its upper end is clear of the collar u and the operator pushes the handle a backwards into a stop v formed as a rectangular slot which can be closed by a bolt w. The extreme end of the handle a is circular and of such a diameter that it can turn freely in the slot even when closed, and the handle for the next ten inches is rectangular in section to slide freely in the slot although unable to turn. After the handle has been inserted in the slot and secured by the bolt the blade of the implement is lifted by ropes J, J<1>, passing through pulleys loosely attached to the top of the sides of blade of the spade, and secured at one end to the sides of the frame and at the other to one or other of two drums K, K<1>. The inner sides of the drums K, K<1> are bevelled and are engaged by three bevelled wheels R. Each drum is mounted loosely on a shaft Q and the drum K is provided with a sleeve carrying a handle N. By rotating this handle, the drums are revolved and the blade of the implement lifted, its shoulders a' riding up guides H. If it is desired to examine the soil, the blade is lifted until it can be pushed forward to let its shoulders fall into stop H<1> at the top of the guides. After the soil has been examined, the implement is raised clear of the stops H', pushed forward and allowed to fall until clear of a board W serving to prevent the soil falling from the spade during the examination. The two drums K, K<1> are then allowed to move away from each other by withdrawing a cotter pin which maintains them in contact with the wheels R. The spade is thus allowed to turn and the soil to be shot off. After removing the spade handle from the stop v the spade is used to lever the machine forward a short distance and the operation repeated. When examination of the soil is not required, the guides H may be removed and shorter guides H<2> substituted. The winding apparatus may be placed transversely of the frame. In a modification, the members g may be operated by the pinions j engaging racks on their lower sides. In the Provisional Specification it is stated that two sets of the mechanism may be mounted in the one frame.